Combination elevator-truck.



No.853,896. PATBNTED MAY14,1'907. e. w PETER.

COMBINATION ELEVATOR TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED APR-21,1905.

v 2 SHEETS-SHEET YHF. mwms'psrns co., wnsumcrorv. u. c.

No. 853,896. PATENTED MAY 14, 1907. I G. W. PETER.

COMBINATION ELEVATOR TRUCK.

"APPLIGATION FILED APE.21.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GEORGE W. PETER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COMBINATION ELEVATOR-TRUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed April 21,1905. Serial No, 256,822.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PETER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Combination Elevator-Truck, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combination elevator trucks; and it consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein shown, described and claimed.

One object of this invention is to provide a truck for use in transporting objects or material, in combination with mechanism, comprising levers and locks for raising the central part of the truck, and thereby the load, to any desired height within reach of the truck.

A further object is to provide incombination with a truck, a pair of pivoted handles and locks to hold them crossed with the truck frame, and a frame supported horizontally by the upper ends of the truck frame and handles at about the usual height for tables and the like, so that by placing a board upon the frame, a substitute for a table is formed.

Another object is to provide a truck with a series of cross bars or braces, and a frame hinged to the end of the truck, and movable to alined position therewith, and a lock device to hold the frame in extended or alined position. A series of cross bars are provided on the frame to form, with thecross bars on the truck, a series of steps so that the entire device forms a ladder.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of my apparatus as adjusted when a load has been lifted, or for use as a table or platform. Fig. 2 shows the apparatus arranged for use as a truck. Fig. 3 is an en larged view of the mechanism whereby the apparatus is adjusted for different uses. Fig. 4 shows the lever device used in connec tion with the adjusting mechanism.

The truck frame 1 is provided with rollers or wheels 2, and the cross braces 3 spaced so as to form steps or rungs for a ladder when the apparatus is converted to that use. To each side of the frame 1 is pivoted a member 4, adapted, when in use for a truck, to lie flush against the sides of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2, the ends of said members forming handles or hand holds 5.

Two segment frames 6 are attached to the frame 1, and on the inner sides thereof ratchet teeth 7 are formed. The frames 6 extend beyond their ratchet teeth, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. To each of'the side members 4 a plate or frame piece 8 is attached, and the operating mechanism is supported thereby, which mechanism I'will now describe.

9 indicates a U-shaped operating lever, the two parallel arms of which are pivoted to the two plates 8. A pawl 10 is pivoted to each of the two arms of the lever, and operate upon the ratchet-teeth 7, and are held against outward movement by the projecting portions of the frames 6 which carry the ratchet teeth. A spring 1 1 is connected to each pawl to hold the same in engagement with the teeth 7. A lug or pin 12 is on the inner side of each awl 10. A pawl 13 is pivoted to each 0 the plates 8 and the said pawls are held in engagement'with the teeth 7 by the s rings 14. A lug or pin 15 is on the inner si e of each pawl 13. The lever 9 is sustained by springs 16 connecting the same with the plates 8. By lowering and raising the free end of the lever 9 the truck frame 1 and parts 4 are turned on their pivots, raising the rear end of the truck frame and the front ends of the side members 4. The pawls 10 push the parts" until the pawls 13 can engage with the next lower teeth, when the lever 9 is released and the springs 16 lower the inner ends thereof, and engage the pawls 10 with the teeth 7 below the ones formerly engaged thereby. This operation is repeated until the load has been raised to the proper height, the parts then being as shown in Fig. 1. j

- Mechanism is provided in connection with the lever 9 and the pawls 10 and 13 for lowering any load that may be upon the truck when it is in its elevated adjustment. The lever 9 controls the pawls 10 and 13 on each of the plates 8, to release them one at a time to lower the truck and load, through the medium of controlling plates 17, supported by said plates 8. A pin 18 on each of the plates 8 projects through a slot 19,- formed in the controlling plate 17 supported thereby. The

said plate 17 is movable longitudinally the length of the slot 19, and when so moved releases the pawls 10 and 13, asrequired to permit them to pass over the teeth 7. The pin 12 on each of the pawls 10, rests against 'the projection 21 and within the notch formed in the plate 17, thereby holding the plate 17 in that position, which is midway of its longitudinal movement. When the parts are in such position the pin 15 on the pawl 13 is against an inclined shoulder 22 on the plate 17, so that if the lever 9 be oscillated to raise the pawl 10, said pawl 10 will raise that side of the segment 6, and thereby the truck frame 1. The first result of such operation of the lever 9 is to push the plate 17 upward. This forces the shoulder 22 under the pin on the pawl 13, thereby moving said pawl out of engagement with the teeth 7, in opposition to its spring 14. This movement of the plate 17 continues until stopped by the pin '18, whereupon the lever 9 is released by the operator, said lever being restored to its foriner position by the springs 16, as is well understood. At the lower edge of the notch 20 is an inclined shoulder 23.

A lever 24 is provided for each of the plates 17, and connected thereto by a pin and slot connection 25 and supported on a pivot pin 26, (Fig. 3). On the free end of each of said levers 24, is a triangular lug or projection 26*, shaped so that one side will rest flush against thesurface of the shoulder 23 whenever said lug enters the notch 20, as hereinafter described. Vhen the lever 9 is released as stated, the lugs 12 on the pawls 10, after short movement, are drawn against the shoulders 23, and thereby move the plate 17 downward until the shoulders 22 are carried beyond the lugs 15, whereupon the springs 14 at once snap the pawls 13 into engagement with the ratchet teeth 7. How ever there is sufhcient movement of the pawls 10 and segments 6, for the latter to carry the ends of the teeth 7, previously engaged by the pawls 13, below the ends of said pawls before the latter are released, so that when they are released they will engage with teeth higher on the segments than those first engaged. The downward movement of the plates 17 continues until stopped by the pins 18. The downward movement of the pawls 10 continues farther through the retraction of the springs 16, the lugs 12 passing finally onto the inclined shoulders 23. To the lower end of each of the plates 17 a spring 27 is connected. Immediately above the pivot of the adjacent lever 24 in each of the plates 17, is formed a notch 28, and shortly after the pawls 13 are snapped back into engagement with the teeth 7, the notches 28 permit the springs 27 to act to draw the lower ends of said plates a farther distance from the segments6. Mter thisoccurs, the plates 17 are stopped by the lugs 18, and the lugs 12 travel along the inclined shoulders 23; the pawls 10 are thereby forced out of engagement with the teeth 7. When the lower ends of the plates 17 are thus drawn outward, the levers 24 are oscillated, and the triangular lugs 26 are drawn into the notches 20 and againstthe inclined shoulders 23. The lever 9 is then operated again, in opposition to its springs 16, andthe upward movement of the inner ends of said lever causes the lugs 12 to rub along the edges of the plates 17, and along the surfaces of lugs 26 until the said lugs 12 pass beyond. the lugs 26", whereupon the springs 1.1 again snap the pawls 10 toward the teeth 7 until stopped by the plates 17. The lugs 12 then strike the shoulders 21 and, after short movement, again engage with the teeth 7, the plates 17 being moved until the notches 28 are above the pivots of the levers 24. The parts are then in that position shown in Fig. 3, and. are ready for another operation.

The operation, of the lever 9 therefore, causes the plate 17 alternately to release and. engage the pawls 10 and 13 and the truck and supported load will be lowered, step by step. The release and engagement are performed automatically by the plates 17 whenever the lever 9 is oscillated. To raise the load the plates must be prevented from operation, and for such purpose, I attach a rod or wire 29 to the free end of each of the levers 24. By drawing the rods or wires 29 outward the lever ends olthe plates 17 are forced toward the segments (3 and beyond reach of the lugs 12 and 1.5 on the pawls 11) and 13 respectively. Hooks 30 are arrangedv for convenient engagement of the rods or wires 29 to hold them when the load is being raised; from which hooks the said rods or wires must be released when the load is to be lowered, in order to control the pawls 10 and 13, as above described.

An angle iron 31. is pivoted. to the rear end of each side of the truck frame 1. The sides of the angle irons project over the side members 4, and will be lifted u nvard, and lowered therewith, when the ends of said. side members are raised or lowered. The two angle members are cmmected transversely by braces 32 spaced at like interwls or distances with the braces .3. The members 3] thus braced form a platform to hold the load. being raised or lowered and, when all parts are telescoped. together to form a truck, the platform lies flat upon the truck. When the handles are manually engaged to use the device as a truck the llanges on the members 31 which, stated, project over the handles, form rigid ahutments for the handles, thereby holding them rigidly against the. sides of the truck frame. As will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1, the platform is always supported horizontally, whether being raised or lowered.

As stated heretofore, the braces 3 and 32 are spaced at suitable intervals to form steps or rungs for a ladder. By turning the platform 31 to extended position, it will form, with the truck 1., a ladder of considerable. length, and may he used as such by locking the parts together. For locking the parts in such position I provide at each side, a spring catch 33 operated, in a well understoml manlever controlling all of said ner, within holes in the sides of the truck frame, and through the members 31, whenever said parts are adjusted at their greatest length.

I claim 1. An elevator mechanism comprising a frame, two side members pivoted to said frame, a ratchet segment attached to the frame, lever and pawl mechanism supported. by the side members, and operable in connec tion with the ratchet segment to" open and close the side members and frame, and a platform supported by the frame and side members.

2. An elevator mechanism comprising a frame, a platform pivoted thereto, side members having one end against the platform pivoted to the frame, a ratchet segment attached to the frame, a lever, a plurality of pawls, and means for operating the pawls to engage with and disengage from the ratchet segment as required to raise and lower'the mechanism, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a truck frame having cross pieces and rollers near one end of said frame, of two handles pivoted to the truck frame, a platform having flanges extending over the handles pivoted to said truck frame, cross pieces connecting the sides of said platform, two frame pieces carried by the handles, ratchet segments on the truck frame, pawl and lever devices carried by said two frame pieces operable to move the truckframe and handles cross wise of each other, and means to lock the platform to the truck frame as a longitudinal continuation thereof, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with the truck frame and the side members pivoted thereto, of a ratchet segment attached to the truck frame, a pawl carried by one of the side members, a plate movably carried by one of the side members, a lever pivoted adjacent to said pawl and plate, and a pawl carried by said lever substantially as described.

5. The combination with a truck frame, of two side members pivoted thereto, ratchet segments attached to the frame, a plurality of pawls riding upon the ratchet segments, a pawls, and a platform supported by the truck frame, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with a truck frame, of two side members pivoted thereto, ratchet segments attached to the frame, a plurality of pawls riding upon the ratchet segments,

controlling devices for the pawls, and a lever.

for operating the pawls and controlling devices, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with a frame provided with rollers near one end, of two handles pivoted to the frame for manual engagement to move the frame, mechanism 0 erable to means raise the ends of the handles and o the frame which are opposite from each other, and a i two handles pivoted platform arranged to rest upon the raised ends of the handles and frame, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a truck frame, of to the frame for moving the truck manually, mechanism operable to move the handles and frame crosswise of each other, and a platform arranged to rest upon the frame and handles when they are crossed, substantially as specified.

9. The combination w th a truck frame having oted to the truck frame, cross braces connecting said two members, means for locking said two members to the truck frame to ,form a longitudinal continuation thereof,

the truck frame above the other and mechanism carried by for holding one end thereof end, and for sup orting the two members which are pivote to the truck frame in a horizontal position when one end of the truck frame is held above the other end, substantially as specified.

10. The combination with a frame, of two handles pivoted to the frame for manual enga ement, means for holding the handles rigidly against the sides of the frame when manually engaged, mechanism operable to move the handles and frame crosswise of each other, and a platform arranged to rest upon the frame and handles when they are crossed, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with a frame having rollers near one end for supporting the same, of two handles pivoted to the frame for manual engagement to move the frame, means for holding the handles rigidly against the sides of the frame when manually engaged, mechanism operable to move the handles and frame crosswise of each other, two members pivoted to the truck frame, cross braces connecting said two members, and means for locking said two members to the truck frame to form a longitudinal continuation thereof, substantially as specified. I

12. The combination with a truck frame, of two handles pivoted to the frame for manual engagement to move the frame, a lever, mechanism controlled by the lever operable to move and hold the handles and frame crosswise of each other, a platform arranged to rest upon the frame and handles when they are crossed, and means for causing the lever, when operated, to operate said mechanism as required to permit the frame and handles to return to their position before they were crossed, substantially as specified.

13. The combination with a truck frame, of two handles pivoted thereto for manual engagement to move the frame, a lever, mechanism controlled by said lever to move the handles and frame to crosswise position, to cause the lever to release said mech anism as required to permit the frame and handles to move out of crosswise position, two

cross braces, of two members p1v-' members pivoted to the frame, cross braces connecting said two members, means whereby said two members will be held in a hori- Zontal position when the handles and frame are crossed, and means locking said two members to the frame to form a longitudinal continuation thereof, substantially as specified. I

14:. In a truck, a frame, two handles, means operable to move the handles and frame crosswise of each other, a platform arranged to rest upon the handles and frame when they are crossed, and means for locking the platform to the frame as a longitudinal continuation thereof.

15. The combination with a truck frame, of two members pivoted to the frame, cross pieces connecting said two members, a lever, mechanism controlled by said lever to move and hold the frame in an inclined position means for holding said two members hori- Zontally when the frame is in an inclined po sition, and means for locking said two members to the truck frame to form a longitudinal continuation thereof, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a frame, of two handles pivoted thereto, ratchet segments on the frame, a lever, pawls acting on. the ratchet segments, devices controlled by the lever to operate the pawls as required. to move the frame and handles cross-wise of each other, and a platform adapted to rest upon the ends of the handles and frame when they arecrossed, substantially as specified.

17. The combination with a frame, of two members pivoted thereto, mechanism operable to move the frame to inclined position and the two members to a horizontal position, and means for locking the two members to the frame as a longitudinal continuation thereof, substantially as specified.

18. The combination with a frame, of two l rollers at or near one end thereof, mechanism operable to move the frame to an inclined position, two members having cross pieces, and means for locking said two members to the frame as a longitudinal continuation thereof, substantiall as described.

19. The combination of a frame, cross pieces connecting opposite sides of said frame, mechanism adjustable to hold said frame at any desired inclined position, two members having cross pieces, and means for locking said two members to said frame to form a longitudinal continuation thereof, substantially as described.

20. The combination with a frame, rollers near one end thereof, and two handles con nected to said frame for manual engagement,

of a lever, mechanism controlled by said lever to move the frame and handles crosswise of each other, and a platform arranged to rest upon the ends of the frame and handles when they are crossed, substantially as specified.

21. A frame, rollers near one end thereof, cross pieces on the frame, handles for manual engagement pivoted to the frame, and a platform resting on the frame and handles, in combination with. a lever, mechanism controlled by the lever to move the frame and handles cross wise of each other, and a re versing device operable to cause operation of the lever to permit the frame and handles to move out of crosswise position, substantially as specified.

22. The combination with a frame, crossbraces connecting the sides thereof, and. rollers near one end of said frame, of two side members pivoted to said frame, handles on the ends of said two members, ratchet segments attached to said frame, a frame piece secured to each of said side members, a twoarm lever pivoted to said frame pieces, and having its ends adjacent to said ratchet segments, a pawl pivoted to each arm of said lever and operating upon the ratchet segments, springs for actuating said pawls, a pawl pivoted to each of said frame pieces, springs holding said last-named pawls in en gagen'ient with the ratchet segments, and springs connected to said lever whereby said lever will be oscillated .in one direction when in operation, substantially as specified.

The combination with a frame, cross braces connecting the sides thereof, andv rollers near one end of said frame, of two side members pivoted to said frame, handles on the ends of said two side members, ratchet segments attached to said. frame, a frame piece secured to each of said. two side mem bers a two-arm lever pivoted to said frame pieces and having its ends adjacent to said ratchet segments, a pawl pivoted on each arm of said lever and operating upon the ratchet segments, springs for actuating said. pawls, a pawl pivoted to each of said frame pieces, springs holding said last-named pawls in engagement with the ratchet segments, a projection on each of the said several named pawls, springs connected. to said. lever whereby said lever will be oscillated in one direction when in operation, a longitinlinally l movable controlling plate supported by each I of the said frame pieces, a projecthm on each l l controlling plate against the projections on the said pawls on the lever whereby said plate will be moved when the lever is oscillated, shoulders on the plate against the pawls on the frame pieces whereby said. pawls will be released from the ratchet segments when said plates are moved. by said lover, a j lever on each frame piece having pin and slot connection with the controlling plate therel 011, a projection on each of said levers acting on the controlling plates and coi'iperating with the projections 011 the pawls which are means to engage said connections to hold GEORGE W. PETER.

pivoted to the two-arm lever, springs con- 1 nected to said levers and actuating the same and the controlling plates away from the ratchet-segments, connections for moving 5 said levers in opposition to their springs,

them to prevent automatic operation of the levers to which they are connected, an angle iron pivoted to the rear end of each side of the Witnesses: truck frame, the angles of said angle irons F. J. MoOAsLIN, projecting over the said two side members, l J. D. RIPPEY. 

